Jul
11

Report: At least 30 Ukraine troops dead in attack

KIEV, Ukraine (AP) — A Ukrainian Interior Ministry official said at least 30 servicemen were killed Friday after pro-Russia rebels fired on them with missiles.

Zoryan Shkiryak, an adviser to the interior minister, said authorities would react swiftly to punish the perpetrators.

“They will be destroyed or captured and be made answerable to Ukrainian law,” Shkiryak said.

Defense Ministry spokesman Vladislav Seleznyov said the attack was on a forward base in a village near the Russian border and confirmed there had been heavy casualties, but did not give any specific figure.

The base was located near one of three border crossings whose closure Russian officials had announced Friday.

Ukrainian government troops have been fighting for more than three months against separatists in eastern Ukraine. In the last two weeks, however, they have cut the amount of territory held by the rebels in half and forced them out of their stronghold in the city of Slovyansk. The rebels have since regrouped in the eastern city of Donetsk and Ukraine has vowed to cordon the area.

Border crossings are of particular concern to both sides. Ukraine says that Russia is supporting and arming the rebels, but Russia denies the charges. The rebels have captured a few of the crossings and Ukraine has demanded them back.

Russian news agencies quoted Vasily Malayev, spokesman for the Federal Security Service in the Rostov region, as saying the border crossings east of Donetsk were temporarily closed late Thursday because of fighting.

Ukraine on Friday said it had regained control of one of those rebel-held crossings.

Jul
11

Report: At least 30 Ukraine troops dead in attack

KDWN

KIEV, Ukraine (AP) — Interfax-Ukraina news agency is citing a Ukrainian Interior Ministry official as saying at least 30 servicemen were killed after pro-Russian rebels fired missiles at them early Friday.

Zoryan Shkiryak, an adviser to the Interior Minister, was quoted as saying authorities would react swiftly to the attack.

Ukrainian government troops have been mired in fighting for more than three months with a rebel army seeking secession for eastern regions of Ukraine.

Rocket attacks on army encampments and checkpoints have become an almost daily occurrence and the death toll among troops has been steadily mounting.

Government forces had appeared to turn the tide last weekend, however, when they forced rebels out of their stronghold in the city of Slovyansk.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

Russian officials say they have closed three major border crossings in the wake of heavy fighting in Ukraine.

Russian news agencies on Friday quoted Vasily Malayev, spokesman for the Federal Security Service in the Rostov region, as saying that three crossings east of Donetsk were temporarily closed late Thursday night because of fighting on the other side.

Ukraine says it regained control of one crossing which had been controlled by rebels.

Pro-Russian insurgents in eastern Ukraine have declared independence and have been fighting Ukrainian government troops for more than three months. Government forces have been advancing in the recent days, pushing the insurgents closer to the Russian border.

Malayev told RIA Novosti on Friday customs staffers had been evacuated from the border crossing while border guards remained at their positions.